Parentella

We can hardly ignore that in all professions computers are used. Even in basic jobs, such as working at a fast food restaurant, workers have to know how to use the register to enter orders and figure out the math. As our students enter the workplace, they will have to know how to critically think and problem solve with computers. In many cases they will have to know how to design, compute, summarize, classify, evaluate, communicate, organize and more using computers. For this reason, some schools are now providing their students with laptops. We call these 1-to-1 environments, where every student has a laptop in the school. As schools transition to this type of environment several questions arise from parents, students, and teachers. How does this impact the learning environment? How do educators teach effectively in this environment?

This past Wednesday on the #PTCHAT educators, parents, principals, and other stakeholders gathered to discuss the issues surrounding 1-to-1 environments.

Here were some of the great ideas shared:

Parentella: Are there any teachers actively participating in a 1:1 learning environment?
readtoday: Most schools that use our sites don’t have a lot of resources so 1:1 is a luxury
GaryBrannigan: If I read this right, one thing we need to focus on is relationship buliding
Parentella: How about we start with the advantages of 1:1 learning/teaching?
pughamy: advantages=anytime, anywhere learning; just-in-time teaching; ready access to resources for PBL
readtoday: @ParentellaWhat happens when we teach young teachers to use a 1:1 environment and then they go into schools with few computers?
cybraryman1: 1-to-1 Schools page of sites: http://bit.ly/aqoeks
2ndgradetchr: in 7th grade, my school started a 1:1 program, we were first class. if i reflect on that, it was huge factor in making me tech savvy
JaneBalvanz: @2ndgradetchr That makes a lot of sense – learning 1:1 before teaching 1:1. Wish I would have had that experience.
jennar: not sure that is a problem RT @readtoday: Problem arises when kids take the computer home and they just want to surf or play games.
FortaliceLLC: PC shld NOT B in kids rm. RT @thompseg: @FortaliceLLC parents tell me they wanted to buy laptop for kids room. My jaw hit floor.
thompseg: @cmt1 Teaching parents digital citizenship http://bit.ly/8ZudNO

Parentella was created to solve the issue of parent and educator communication at elementary, middle school and high school levels. As part of this mission, we are hosting weekly #PTCHAT discussions to encourage a productive dialogue between parents and educators. We hope you will join us Wednesdays at 9 p.m. EST.